The initial infiltration went smoothly.
Even when turning corners and encountering Ant Soldiers, Andre and Nob dispatched them silently and instantly with perfect teamwork.
But as they neared the central stairwell, faces turned pale.
They sensed it—
A malicious aura engulfing the palace's second floor.
Not Pitou's En,
But something just as monstrous.
The En wasn't as wide as Pitou's usual range,
But it reeked of evil so dense it twisted the soul.
Even in absolute stealth, concealed and unseen,
That aura scraped across the mind like glass on bone.
Their very cells trembled—sweat poured down.
The two exchanged glances—
and in each other's eyes saw pure terror.
It was an aura that whispered:
"If you get caught… even death is mercy."
Was this the monster Kite had faced?
The one Gon, Killua, and Joey had dared to stand against?
How the hell did they do it?
How had they kept moving forward after feeling this?
In that moment, for the first time, Andre felt fear.
Nob, too, trembled.
But he had sensed Pitou's aura before.
He held himself together—barely.
Still, once he marked an exit at the base of the central stairwell,
He was ready to fall back.
Nob opened a door to the 4D Apartment.
"Andre—let's go."
But then—
A figure appeared.
At the top of the stairs.
Aura flaring.
"Nyaaa~ Little rats scurrying around?"
Neferpitou.
Her round hadn't even deployed—
She saw Andre first.
Andre's instincts roared.
Nob must not be discovered.
If Pitou's En activates before I engage—Nob's escape will be exposed.
If the 4D Apartment is compromised… the entire operation is over.
He'd entered the palace prepared to die.
But now…
Could he survive pulling this thing into his Single Room?
Even his trembling limbs wanted to run.
But he was a Hunter.
A professional.
In 0.1 seconds, he decided—
Faster than thought, his hands moved.
He conjured the Single Room, pulled his pistol—
And just as he fired—
His arm flew off.
Gone.
Out of the corner of his eye—
He saw Nob vanish into the Apartment.
"Off target~"
Pitou's mocking voice cooed next to him.
But Andre smiled.
He had done it.
He had played his part.
The bullet was already flying—
And if Pitou didn't kill him outright…
"Come to Daddy, you little shit!"
the bullet howled, glowing with taunting aura.
The Single Room flared—
An immense suction pulled both of them in.
Andre's remaining leg was torn off mid-drag.
Then—
Gone.
Pitou swerved—
But it was too late.
The aura halted.
Her En canceled.
And all that was left was a closed Single Room—
blocking the central staircase.
Too late, Morel's Smoke Soldiers arrived—
Only to be instantly obliterated.
A towering, muscular Ant descended the stairs—
Menthuthuyoupi.
Face twisted into a grin of slaughter.
Three seconds.
That's how long they lasted.
Elsewhere, the exit to the 4D Apartment swung open.
Nob emerged.
Pale. Shaking. Bleeding.
He told Kite and Morel everything.
The three raced for Andre's exit door, hidden in Peijing.
1 minute 43 seconds.
That's how long Andre had held Pitou.
When the door reappeared—
Andre tumbled out, unconscious.
His body—
One arm missing.
Both legs gone.
Stomach torn wide.
Barely clinging to life.
Behind him, a puppeteer's phantom hovered.
The shadow of Pitou's manipulation—already taking root.
And from five kilometers away—
A blast of murderous aura erupted.
Pitou, denied her prey, was in a rage.
Her En, violent and seething, surged toward Peijing.
But the 4D Apartment allowed instant extraction.
The team fled safely.
But Andre's condition—
Was dire.
Joey, learning what had happened, felt his stomach drop.
He turned to Nob.
"Why didn't you leave him in the Apartment? I could've healed him faster!"
"There's no proper equipment in there," Nob replied grimly.
"He's only alive now because of a facility we set up with Peijing's general in advance.
It's the best trauma care we've got."
"And there's more," he added.
"Pitou's aura still clings to him.
That puppet master residue—if we don't exorcise it, any healing might fail or even backfire."
"We'll try anyway.
If it doesn't work… we'll move him and bring in a Nen Exorcist."
Joey nodded.
When they reached Andre—
Everyone gasped.
He looked like someone who'd survived the worst torture imaginable.
That he was alive at all was a miracle.
Joey activated Golden Experience.
He attempted to forge a new leg.
A lifeline.
But the moment it touched Andre's flesh—
The puppet aura lashed out.
The puppet phantom surged.
Kite reacted instantly, yanking Joey back.
They retreated.
Thirty seconds passed.
The aura faded.
"It won't work," Kite muttered.
"We'll have to move him."
Joey grimaced.
His eyes flicked to Killua—then he nodded.
"Leave it to me," Nob said, already making arrangements.
"He knew what he signed up for," Morel said, voice low.
"But unless we kill Neferpitou, no Exorcist can lift her curse.
If we try—she might retaliate remotely."
"Then we kill her."
Joey's fist clenched.
"We kill Neferpitou."
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For this week I will do more release depending on the power stones !
100 Power Stones = 1 chapter (in addition to the daily update)
So give stones if you want mooooar !